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Toy Soldiers now available without Games for Windows Live

Games for Windows Live seems, thankfully, to be on its last legs. Most games with Microsoft's system nowadays are straightforward ports from Xbox 360, using GFWL to directly replace identical Xbox Live functionality. One such port, Signal Studios' tower defense Toy Soldiers, now delightfully gives you the option to play a new version using Valve's superior Steamworks, or to stick with the old GFWL one.

Games for Windows Live seems, thankfully, to be on its last legs. Most games with Microsoft's system nowadays are straightforward ports from Xbox 360, using GFWL to directly replace identical Xbox Live functionality. One such port, Signal Studios' tower defense Toy Soldiers, now delightfully gives you the option to play a new version using Valve's superior Steamworks, or to stick with the old GFWL one.

There is one minor hitch. As the patch notes explain, saved games between the two versions are incompatible, so you'll need to start over if you want to ditch GFWL. Still, for your trouble you'll get Steam-powered achievements, leaderboards, and Cloud save support. When you launch the game, you can pick which version runs.

Yesterday's patch also adds 1080p support, performance improvements, crash fixes, and other jazz. It turns out that one of those crashes was caused by players having outdated versions of GFWL anyway. Don't let the door hit you in the bum on the way out, GFWL.